Cradle for use with radiation conversion device

ABSTRACT

A cradle for use with a radiation conversion device includes a cradle for carrying out charging of a radiation conversion device, which is disposed in the vicinity of an image capturing apparatus for capturing a radiation image of a subject, and which detects radiation that has passed through the subject and converts the radiation into image information. The cradle is equipped with a charging processor for carrying out charging with respect to a battery mounted in the radiation conversion device, an information acquiring section for acquiring information that includes subject information pertaining to the subject and includes image capturing conditions when the image information of the subject is captured, and a display unit for displaying the acquired information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2008-016267, filed Jan. 28, 2008, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cradle for use with a radiationconversion device for performing a charging process for a radiationconversion device, which is arranged in the vicinity of an imagecapturing apparatus for capturing a radiation image of a subject, theradiation conversion device detecting radiation that has passed throughthe subject and converting the radiation into image information.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the medical field, a radiation image capturing apparatus, in whichradiation is applied to a subject, and radiation that has passed throughthe subject is directed to a radiation conversion device for capturing aradiation image of the subject, has been widely used.

In this case, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-208306,a radiation conversion device (electronic cassette) is disclosed inwhich applied radiation is converted directly into electric signals, orafter the radiation has been converted into visible light by ascintillator, a solid state detecting element made up from amorphoussilicon or the like is used to convert the visible light into electricsignals to enable reading thereof.

In the aforementioned radiation conversion device, a portable type ofstructure is known in which a battery is loaded. In this case, when thestorage capacity of the internal battery is large, since the weight ofthe radiation conversion device increases, handling of the radiationconversion device becomes inconvenient. As a result, the storagecapacity of the battery is restricted to enable a reduction in weight,whereas in the room where an image is to be captured, or in the vicinitythereof, a charging cradle is arranged, for carrying out charging of thebattery at appropriate times.

Incidentally, in the case that a radiation image is captured, it isessential to properly confirm the relationship between the subject andthe radiation conversion device that detects the radiation image.Further, for obtaining a desired radiation image, appropriate imagecapturing conditions corresponding to subject information, such as age,sex, physical attributes, etc., of the subject, must be set in order tocapture the image. Normally, such subject information and imagecapturing conditions are set by a technician utilizing a console, whichis arranged outside of the room in which the image is captured. In thiscase, when the subject information and image capturing conditions areset, and imaging is performed by carrying the radiation conversiondevice into a room where the image is captured, if the image capturingconditions cannot be confirmed at a location in the vicinity of theimage capturing apparatus, there is a concern in that setting mistakesconcerning the imaging region of the subject, or capturing mistakenimages of the wrong subject, etc., are more likely to occur.

Consequently, for example, according to Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 2005-000344, a configuration is proposed in whichinformation of an examination plan, including the name of the subject,etc., are displayed on a monitor, which is disposed together with amedical diagnostic apparatus arranged in the room where the image is tobe captured, whereby the technician and the subject can confirm suchdisplayed content.

In this case, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2005-000344, when a detector corresponding to the radiation conversiondevice is integrated with the medical diagnostic apparatus, since thesubject can be confirmed according to the subject information displayedon the monitor, no special consideration needs to be given to therelationship between the subject and the medical diagnostic apparatus,and a desired radiation image of the subject can clearly be captured bythe medical diagnostic apparatus.

Notwithstanding, in the case of a portable type of radiation conversiondevice, since a multiplicity of radiation conversion devices may existfor one subject, if the relationship between the subject and eachradiation conversion device is not properly confirmed, a possibilityexists that a mistaken radiation image of the subject will be captured.Further, setting of appropriate image capturing conditions for capturingthe radiation image, as well as recording of the radiation image of theimaged subject, tends to be difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A general object of the present invention is to provide a cradle for usewith a radiation conversion device, whereby charging of the radiationconversion device can be carried out in the vicinity of an imagecapturing apparatus, and subject information and image capturingconditions are displayed so that an appropriate radiation image of thesubject can be captured in accordance with the displayed content.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a cradle foruse with a radiation conversion device, which can establish anerror-free relationship between the subject to be imaged and theradiation conversion device in which the radiation image is stored.

A cradle for use with a radiation conversion device according to thepresent invention includes a cradle for carrying out charging of aradiation conversion device, the cradle being disposed in the vicinityof an image capturing apparatus which captures a radiation image of asubject, the radiation conversion device detecting radiation that haspassed through the subject and converting the radiation into imageinformation. The invention further includes a charging processor forcarrying out charging with respect to a battery mounted in the radiationconversion device, an information acquiring section for acquiringinformation that includes subject information pertaining to the subjectand includes image capturing conditions when the image information ofthe subject is captured, and a display unit for displaying the acquiredinformation.

In accordance with the present invention, because subject informationand image capturing conditions are displayed on the display unit of thecradle for the radiation conversion device, which is disposed in thevicinity of the image capturing apparatus, a technician can confirm thatthe subject is a given subject according to the displayed information,together with enabling setting of appropriate image capturing conditionsin the image capturing apparatus.

Further, since the subject information and the image capturingconditions can be confirmed by means of a linkage with the radiationconversion device, while in a state of being mounted and charged withinthe cradle for the radiation conversion device, the relationship betweenthe subject and the radiation conversion device can be responded to in asuitable manner.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferredembodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrativeexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a radiation image capturing systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an interior structural view of an electronic cassette;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the circuit structure of aradiation conversion panel making up the electronic cassette; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the radiation image capturingsystem.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a radiation image capturing system20 to which the cradle for a radiation conversion device of the presentinvention is applied. The radiation image capturing system 20 isequipped with a radiation source 24 for irradiating a patient 22(subject) with radiation X having a given dose according to imagecapturing conditions, a radiation source control device 26 forcontrolling the radiation source 24, an electronic cassette 28(radiation conversion device) for detecting radiation X that has passedthrough the patient 22. The radiation image capturing system 20 furthercomprises a cradle 30 for performing a charging process on theelectronic cassette 28, for performing a process to display patientinformation (subject information) and image capturing conditions, andfor carrying out a signal transmitting and receiving process of imageinformation based on the radiation X that is detected by the electroniccassette 28. The radiation image capturing system 20 also includes aportable information terminal 32 having an image capturing switch forthe radiation source 24, and which is carried by a technician forconfirming conditions including image capturing operations, and aconsole 34, by which the radiation source control device 26, the cradle30, and the portable information terminal 32 are controlled, while alsotransmitting and receiving necessary information therebetween.

The patient information is defined as information for specifying apatient 22, such as the name and sex of the patient 22, a patient IDnumber, and the like. The image capturing conditions are conditions fordetermining a tube voltage, tube current, irradiation time, etc., forirradiating an imaging location of the patient 22 with an appropriatedose of radiation X. For example, the image capturing conditions, mayinclude the imaging location, the image capturing method, and the like.The patient information and the image capturing information can beobtained from the console 34.

The radiation source 24, the radiation source control device 26 and thecradle 30 are arranged inside of an image capturing room 36 where theimage is to be captured, whereas the console 34 is disposed in anoperations room 38 outside of the image capturing room 36. Further,wireless transmission of necessary information is transmitted andreceived between the radiation source control device 26 and the portableinformation terminal 32, as well as between the portable informationterminal 32 and the console 34.

FIG. 2 is an interior structural view of the electronic cassette 28. Theelectronic cassette 28 is equipped with a casing 40 made from a materialwhich is permeable to radiation X. Inside of the casing 40, a grid 42for removing scattered radiation X from the patient 22, a radiationconversion panel 44 for detecting radiation X that has passed throughthe patient 22, and a lead plate 46 for absorbing backscatteredradiation X are arranged in this order.

A battery 50 which serves as a power source for the electronic cassette28, a controller 52 that controls driving of the radiation conversionpanel 44 based on the power supplied from the battery 50, and atransceiver (signal transmitting/receiving unit) 54 for wirelesslytransmitting signals to the cradle 30 including information convertedinto electrical signals from radiation X by the radiation conversionpanel 44, are accommodated inside the casing 40. Moreover, in thecontroller 52 and the transceiver 54, for avoiding damage caused byradiation X, it is preferable for a lead plate or the like to bedisposed on surface sides of the casing 40 that are subject to beingirradiated with radiation X.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration of the electroniccassette 28 including the radiation conversion panel 44 therein. Theradiation conversion panel 44 includes a structure in which aphotoelectric conversion layer 56 made up from an amorphous selenium(a-Se) material or the like, which generates electric charges uponsensing radiation X, is disposed on thin film transistors (TFTs) 58arrayed in a matrix form. After the generated electric charges areaccumulated in storage capacitors 60, the TFTs 58 are successivelyturned on one line at a time, and the electric charges are read out asimage signals. FIG. 3 shows the connected relationship of only one ofthe TFTs 58 and one pixel (image element) 62 made up from aphotoelectric conversion layer 56 and a storage capacitor 60, whereasthe structures of other similar pixels have been omitted fromillustration for the sake of simplicity. Since when heated to hightemperatures, the structure of amorphous selenium changes and thefunctionality thereof is lowered, amorphous selenium must be used withina prescribed temperature range. Accordingly, it is preferable to providesome means for cooling the radiation conversion panel 44 inside theelectronic cassette 28.

Gate lines 64, which extend in parallel to the direction of the rows,and signal lines 66 which extend in parallel to the direction of thecolumns, are connected to the TFTs 58, which are connected respectivelyto each of the pixels 62. Each of the gate lines 64 is connected to aline scanning driver 68, and each of the signal lines 66 is connected toa multiplexer 76 that constitutes a reading circuit.

Control signals Von, Voff that control ON and OFF states of the TFTs 58arrayed in the direction of the rows, are supplied from the linescanning driver 68 to the gate lines 64. In this case, the line scanningdriver 68 comprises a plurality of switches SW1 that switch the gatelines 64 on or off, and an address decoder 70, which outputs selectionsignals for selecting one of the switches SW1. Address signals aresupplied from the controller 52 to the address decoder 70.

Further, the signal lines 66 are supplied with electric charges, whichare stored in the storage capacitors 60 of each of the pixels 62,through the TFTs 58 arranged in the columns. The electric chargessupplied to the signal lines 66 are amplified by amplifiers 72. Theamplifiers 72 are connected through respective sample and hold circuits74 to the multiplexer 76. The multiplexer 76 comprises a plurality ofswitches SW2 for successively switching between the signal lines 66, andan address decoder 78 for outputting a selection signal for selectingone of the switches SW2 at a time. The address decoder 78 is suppliedwith an address signal from the controller 52. An A/D converter 80 isconnected to the multiplexer 76. A radiation image signal is convertedby the A/D converter 80 into a digital image signal representing theradiation image information, which is supplied to the controller 52.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the radiation image capturingsystem 20.

An image memory 51 for storing radiation image information detected bythe radiation conversion panel 44, a cassette information memory 53 forstoring cassette information comprising information specific to theelectronic cassette 28, a transceiver 54, and a battery 50 that suppliespower to the electronic cassette 28, are connected respectively to thecontroller 52 of the electronic cassette 28. The cassette informationmay be defined to include, for example, a number of usage times at whichradiation image information has been recorded with respect to theelectronic cassette 28, a cumulative exposure dose of radiation X towhich the electronic cassette 28 has been exposed, and defectinformation, which is detected based on the radiation image informationobtained from each of the pixels (image elements) 62 that make up theradiation conversion panel 44.

To a controller 90 of the cradle 30, there are connected respectively, acharging processor 92 that carries out a charging process on the battery50 in the electronic cassette 28 accommodated therein, a cassetteinformation memory 91 for storing cassette information obtained from theelectronic cassette 28, a patient information memory 93 and an imagecapturing conditions memory 101 that store patient information and imagecapturing conditions obtained from the console 34, an informationread/write processor 95 that writes in patient information to theelectronic cassette 28 and also reads out radiation image informationfrom the electronic cassette 28, an image memory 97 that stores the readout radiation image information, a display unit 96 for displayingnecessary information including patient information, image capturingconditions and acquired radiation image information, a speaker 98 fornotifying a technician or the like concerning required information, anda transceiver (signal transmitting/receiving unit) 94 for carrying outtransmission and reception of information between the electroniccassette 28 and the console 34. The transceiver 94 performs transmissionand reception of signals by means of wireless communications. Further,the charging process carried out with respect to the battery 50 of theelectronic cassette 28 can be performed in a non-contact state throughthe transceiver 94, or in a contact state through a non-illustratedconnector provided on the electronic cassette 28 loaded into the cradle30.

The controller 100 of the portable information terminal 32 supplies animage capturing signal generated by an image capturing switch 102 thatdrives the radiation source 24 to the radiation source control device 26through a transceiver (signal transmitting/receiving unit) 104. Further,the controller 100 displays on a display unit 106 patient information,imaging capturing conditions, and the like, which are received from theconsole 34 through the transceiver 104, and also carries out processingfor notifying a technician or the like by causing necessary informationto be emitted from a speaker 108. The portable information terminal 32includes an operating unit 110 by which necessary information can be settherein.

The console 34 is equipped with a controller 112, a transceiver (signaltransmitting/receiving unit) 114 for transmitting and receivingnecessary information via wireless communications with respect to theradiation source control device 26, the cradle 30 and the portableinformation terminal 32, a patient information setting unit 116 forsetting patient information, an image capturing conditions setting unit118 for setting required image capturing conditions for an image to becaptured by the radiation source control device 26, an image processor120 for performing image processing on the radiation image informationsupplied from the electronic cassette 28 via the cradle 30, an imagememory 122 for storing the processed radiation image information, adisplay unit 124 for displaying radiation image information and othernecessary information, and a speaker 126 for notifying a technician orthe like concerning the necessary information.

The console 34 is connected to a radiology information system (RIS) 82,which generally manages radiation image information handled by theradiological department of a hospital along with other information. TheRIS 82 is connected to a hospital information system (HIS) 84, whichgenerally manages medical information in the hospital. Image capturingorder information, including the patient information and the imagecapturing conditions, may be set directly by the console 34, oralternatively, can be supplied to the console 34 from an externallocation via the RIS 82.

The radiation image capturing system 20 according to the presentembodiment is constructed basically as described above. Next,explanations shall be made concerning operations of the radiation imagecapturing system 20.

When a radiation image is to be captured of the patient 22, using thepatient information setting unit 116 of the console 34, patientinformation concerning the patient 22 is set, together with settingrequired image capturing conditions using the image capturing conditionssetting unit 118. Such information may be obtained from the RIS 82 andthe HIS 84 from an upstream location via the transceiver 114. The thusset patient information and image capturing conditions can be displayedfor confirmation on the display unit 124.

Next, the set patient information and image capturing conditions aretransmitted from the transceiver 114 to the cradle 30, which is arrangedinside the image capturing room 36, and the information is displayed onthe display unit 96 by the controller 90 of the cradle 30. In this case,the technician confirms the name etc. of the patient 22, whose image isto be captured, according to the patient information displayed on thedisplay unit 96. By means of this confirmation process, accidents suchas capturing an image by mistake of the wrong patient can be preventedfrom occurring. Further, according to the displayed image capturingconditions, the technician can confirm the imaging location, the imagecapturing method, etc.

On the other hand, the electronic cassette 28 used for capturing imagesis loaded into the cradle 30, and a charging process on the battery 50is carried out by the charging processor 92. The information read/writeprocessor 95 stores patient information, pertaining to the patient 22whose image is to be captured, in the cassette information memory 53 ofthe electronic cassette 28.

Further, the patient information and the image capturing conditions aretransmitted from the transceiver 114 of the console 34 to the portableinformation terminal 32, which is carried by the technician, by means ofwireless communications, and the information is displayed on the displayunit 106. In this case, the technician can confirm the patientinformation and the image capturing conditions that are displayed on thedisplay unit 106 of the portable information terminal 32, so thatdesired preparations for capturing the image can be carried out.

Furthermore, the image capturing conditions are transmitted to theradiation source control device 26. The radiation source control device26 sets the tube voltage, the tube current, and the irradiation time,which make up image capturing conditions, in the radiation source 24,thus carrying out preparations for capturing an image.

After the technician has confirmed the patient information displayed onthe display unit 96 of the cradle 30, the charging process is completedand the electronic cassette 28 in which the patient information has beenstored is taken out of the cradle 30. According to the set imagecapturing conditions, the electronic cassette 28 is set on a desiredimaging region of the patient 22.

After the electronic cassette 28 has been set in an appropriatecondition with respect to the patient 22, the technician operates theimage capturing switch 102 of the portable information terminal 32,whereupon capturing of the radiation image is carried out. When theimage capturing switch 102 is operated, the controller 100 of theportable information terminal 32 transmits an image capturing initiationsignal to the radiation source control device 26 via the transceiver104. The radiation source control device 26 that has received the imagecapture initiation signal controls the radiation source 24 according tothe image capturing conditions supplied beforehand from the console 34,and thereby irradiates the patient 22 with radiation X.

The radiation X that has passed through the patient 22, after scatteredrays have been removed by the grid 42 of the electronic cassette 28,irradiates the radiation conversion panel 44 and is converted intoelectric signals by the photoelectric conversion layer 56 of each of thepixels 62 making up the radiation conversion panel 44, which areretained as charges in the storage capacitors 60 (see FIG. 3). Next, theelectric charge information that forms the radiation image informationof the patient 22 stored in each of the storage capacitors 60 is readout in accordance with address signals, which are supplied from thecontroller 52 to the line scanning driver 68 and the multiplexer 76.

More specifically, the address decoder 70 of the line scanning driver 68outputs a selection signal based on the address signal supplied from thecontroller 52, thereby selecting one of the switches SW1, and supplies acontrol signal Von to the gate of the TFT 58 that is connected to acorresponding gate line 64. On the other hand the address decoder 78 ofthe multiplexer 76 outputs a selection signal according to the addresssignal supplied from the controller 52, and successively switches theswitch SW2, whereby the radiation image information, which is formed aselectric charge information stored in the storage capacitors 60 of eachof the pixels (image elements) 62 that are connected to the gate line 64selected by the line scanning driver 68, is read out in successionthrough the signal lines 66.

The radiation image information read from the storage capacitors 60 ofthe pixels 62 connected to the selected gate line 64 of the radiationconversion panel 44 are amplified by respective amplifiers 72, sampledby the sample and hold circuits 74, and are supplied to the A/Dconverter 80 through the multiplexer 76 and converted into digitalsignals. The radiation image information having been converted intodigital signals is temporarily stored in the image memory 51 connectedto the controller 52.

Similarly, the address decoder 70 of the line scanning driver 68successively turns on the switches SW1 according to the address signalssupplied from the controller 52, and reads out the radiation imageinformation, which is made up of charge information stored in thestorage capacitors 60 of each of the pixels 62 connected respectively tothe gate lines 64 through the signal lines 66, whereupon the radiationimage information is temporarily stored in the image memory 51 connectedto the controller 52 through the multiplexer 76 and the A/D converter80.

Further, at a point in time when image capturing is completed, thecontroller 52 of the electronic cassette 28 records as cassetteinformation in the cassette information memory 53 the number of usagetimes of the electronic cassette 28, i.e., a count of the number oftimes the electronic cassette 28 has been exposed to radiation X.Further, based on the radiation image information stored in the imagememory 51, the controller 52 calculates a cumulative radiation Xexposure amount, from initiation of use of the electronic cassette 28 tothe present time, for each of the pixels 62 of the radiation conversionpanel 44, or as an averaged value of the cumulative radiation exposureamount from each of the pixels 62, and records the calculated amount inthe cassette information memory 53.

Furthermore, based on the radiation image information stored in theimage memory 51, the controller 52 calculates defect information, inaccordance with the presence or absence of defective pixels, the degreeof such defects or the like, for example, by comparing the radiationimage information between adjacent pixels 62, and records such defectinformation in the cassette information memory 53. As methods fordetecting defective pixels, for example, a method utilizing dark pixels(dark current), and a method utilizing radiation image informationobtained by uniformly irradiating (exposing) the electronic cassette 28to radiation X of a preset dose in a state where the patient 22 is notdisposed, may be considered. Apart from these methods, other detectionmethods for detecting defective pixels, which are implemented by varioustypes of radiation image capturing apparatuses, can also be used. (Referto Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-245049.)

Upon completion of image capturing, the electronic cassette 28 in whichradiation image information of the patient 22 has been recorded isloaded into the cradle 30, which is arranged inside of the imagecapturing room 36. A charging process is carried out on the battery 50by the charging processor 92, and together therewith, a process forreading out the radiation image information and the cassette informationis performed by the information read/write processor 95.

More specifically, the information read/write processor 95, which readsinformation of the cradle 30, reads out the radiation image informationstored in the image memory 51 of the electronic cassette 28 and storessuch information in the image memory 97, and also reads out the cassetteinformation stored in the cassette information memory 53 of theelectronic cassette 28, while storing such information in the cassetteinformation memory 91 and the patient information memory 93. Theinformation also is displayed on the display unit 96 by the controller90. For example, by displaying as a preview image on the display unit 96the radiation image information read out from the image memory 97, alongwith displaying the patient information read out from the cassetteinformation memory 53 of the display unit 96, whether or not appropriateimage capturing was carried out with respect to a desired patient 22 canbe confirmed inside the image capturing room 36. Further, by displayingthe number of usage times of the electronic cassette 28, the cumulativeexposure dose, and defect information from the radiation conversionpanel 44, etc., as read out from the cassette information memory 53 ofthe display unit 96, whether or not the electronic cassette 28 is in anappropriate usage condition can be confirmed.

On the other hand, the radiation image information stored in the imagememory 97 of the cradle 30, together with the patient information storedin the patient information memory 93, are transmitted to the console 34via the transceiver 94. At the console 34, after image processing hasbeen implemented with respect to the radiation image information by theimage processor 120, the radiation image information, in a state ofassociation with the patient information, is stored in the image memory122. Thereafter, by displaying the radiation image information stored inthe image memory 122 on the display unit 124, a final confirmation ofthe image can be carried out.

After compression processing is implemented, as may be needed, on theradiation image information that has been transmitted to the console 34,the radiation image information may be transmitted from the transceiver114 to the portable information terminal 32 held by the technician, soas to provide a preview image on the display unit 106. Further, aconfiguration can also be provided in which the radiation imageinformation is transmitted directly to the portable information terminal32 from the cradle 30 or the electronic cassette 28.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-describedembodiment, and the invention can be freely modified, within a rangethat does not deviate from the essence and gist of the presentinvention.

For example, the radiation conversion panel 44 accommodated in theelectronic cassette 28 converts the radiation dose of the radiation Xdirectly into electric signals through the photoelectric conversionlayer 56. However, in place of this structure, a radiation conversionpanel in which the radiation X is converted initially into visible lightby a scintillator, and thereafter, the visible light is converted intoelectric signals using a solid-state detector element formed fromamorphous silicon (a-Si) or the like, may also be used (see, JapanesePatent No. 3494683).

Further, the radiation image information can be obtained using aradiation conversion panel of a light-conversion type. With such alight-conversion type of radiation conversion panel, radiation isirradiated onto respective solid state detection elements arranged in amatrix form, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to theirradiation dose is stored cumulatively in the solid state detectionelements. When the electrostatic latent image is read, reading light isirradiated onto the radiation conversion panel, and the generatedcurrent values are acquired as radiation image information. Further, byirradiating the radiation conversion panel with erasing light, theradiation image information in the form of a residual electrostaticlatent image can be erased and the radiation conversion panel can bereused (see, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-105297).

What is claimed is:
 1. A cradle for use with a radiation conversiondevice comprising a cradle for carrying out charging of a radiationconversion device, the cradle being disposed in the vicinity of an imagecapturing apparatus which captures a radiation image of a patient as asubject, the radiation conversion device detecting radiation that haspassed through the subject and converting the radiation into imageinformation, the cradle further comprising: an information storagesection; a charging processor for carrying out charging with respect toa battery mounted in the radiation conversion device; an informationacquiring section for acquiring information that includes patientinformation pertaining to the patient for specifying the patient andthat includes image capturing conditions when the image information ofthe patient is captured, from a console in which the patient informationand the image capturing conditions are set; a display unit fordisplaying the acquired information; and an information read/writeprocessor operative to perform the following steps: writing the patientinformation to the radiation conversion device before radiation imagecapturing, reading out the image information and at least one of thepatient information and usage information of the radiation conversiondevice from the radiation conversion device after the radiation imagecapturing, and storing the read out information in the informationstorage section.
 2. The cradle for use with a radiation conversiondevice according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the imageinformation read out from the radiation conversion device.
 3. The cradlefor use with a radiation conversion device according to claim 1, whereinthe display unit displays the usage information read out from theradiation conversion device.
 4. The cradle for use with a radiationconversion device according to claim 3, wherein the usage informationcomprises information concerning the number of times the radiationconversion device has been used.
 5. The cradle for use with a radiationconversion device according to claim 3, wherein the usage informationcomprises information concerning a cumulative radiation exposure dose ofthe radiation with respect to the radiation conversion device.
 6. Thecradle for use with a radiation conversion device according to claim 3,wherein the usage information comprises defect information concerning adefect in pixels that make up the radiation conversion device.
 7. Thecradle for use with a radiation conversion device according to claim 1,further comprising an image information transmitting unit fortransmitting the image information read out from the radiationconversion device to a console.